Major Charles Russell Lane, 58, chief deputy to Greene County Sheriff Steve Smith, passed away Wednesday, January 2 at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville following a long battle with cancer.

Major Charles Russell Lane

Born in Fauquier County to Ralph Russell Lane and Elsie May Lane on October 28, 1954, Lane was appointed Smith’s chief deputy and head of his administration division when Smith took office in January of last year.

The appointment was the culmination of a 28-year law enforcement career that began when Lane volunteered as a reserve police officer with the Culpeper Police Department in 1984. According to reports, Lane joined the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office in February 1996 as a part-time employee, and became a full-time employee in 2000. He remained with that office for 15 years, working as an investigator and patrol captain before being promoted to major by Culpeper County Sheriff Jim Branch.

Lane left the CCSO with Branch in December 2012, and then Smith hired him to be his right hand.

“He was 100 percent dedicated to his job and the community,” Smith told the Culpeper Star-Exponent on the day of Lane’s death. “He completed all of his tasks. I only knew him a year but he had a tremendous impact on my life.”

During his time in Greene County, Lane introduced the citizen’s academy, a free 12-week program designed to help local residents learn more about the various aspects of law enforcement and government.

Surviving Lane is his wife, Kathern “Kathy” May Lane of Culpeper; mother, Elsie May Lane of Orange, formerly of Rixeyville; twin sister, Elizabeth Rhoades and her husband, Mike, of Rhoadesville; brothers, Joe Stanley and his wife, Carolyn, of Culpeper, Larry Stanley and his wife, Bonnie, of Waynesboro, Wayne Lane and his wife, Cathy, of Castleton, Ricky Lane of Upperville, Mike Lane and his wife, Lisa, of Spotsylvania, Carl Lane and his wife, Cathy, of Reva; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Lane was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Russell Lane. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 5 at the Culpeper Baptist Church. Interment followed at Fairview Cemetery with honor guards from Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police participating. Smith, Captain Charles Swingler, Lieutenant David Roach, all of Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Chief Chris Jenkins and Officer Jason Smith of Culpeper Police Department, Chief Investigator Brad Sullivan of UMW Police, Deputy C.J. Johnson of Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and Bo Smith served as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Culpeper Senior Center, Attention Gladys Williams, 710 U.S. Avenue, Culpeper, VA 22701. Condolences may be offered through www.clore-english.com.